Withdrawing from a course during interview season

[ardeidae]

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Hello everyone,

I have a great problem, but it's still something I need to figure out. I have eight MSTP interviews, only one completed. Five of them are within a one-month time period, and as I am an MD-PhD applicant, my interviews are two days rather than the usual one. I am doing very well in my coursework for this semester, but I know that it is going to be horrific to try and keep up with human biochemistry (reputably one of the hardest courses at my school) while I am gone on interviews so much. Dropping it would also require dropping my biochemistry minor, but that's not a big deal to me.

So here is my dilemma: Withdraw from human biochemistry, which is a very medically related course and I am doing well in to focus on interviews, or stay in the course and just grit my teeth through any problems with my grades dropping or being excessively tired in interviews.

Would admissions committees care about me withdrawing from human biochemistry? Should I send an update at the end of the semester explaining why I withdrew?

Thanks! I appreciate any advice.

 

[kb1900]

it will not be a big issue; just withdraw and mention it at interviews if it comes up

only if it comes up?

I'm in a similar situation but reported my future coursework on acmas. I was planning on emailing all the schools I get II's at that I dropped one of my courses this semester. Is this not neeeded?

 

[DokterMom]

Drop the course officially, but talk to the prof. Explain how your interview schedule makes it unlikely you would be able to succeed but tell him/her you really care about the material and would really like to learn it, and ask to audit the class. Go when you can; learn what you can. No pressure

 

[ardeidae]

it will not be a big issue; just withdraw and mention it at interviews if it comes up

Thanks for the advice!

Drop the course officially, but talk to the prof. Explain how your interview schedule makes it unlikely you would be able to succeed but tell him/her you really care about the material and would really like to learn it, and ask to audit the class. Go when you can; learn what you can. No pressure

Good idea. I really like the course, I just also feel like I would enjoy not being a zombie for the entirety of my interviews. Thanks!